Postgraduate Course: Research Methods and Problems (CLLC11004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an advanced introduction to research problems and methods in literature and cultural studies. As a group, we examine influential scholarly debates on that focus on the selection of copy-texts in literary, cultural and theatre and performance studies, focussing on the ways these have informed critical approaches to literary research and research in cultural and/or theatre and performance studies. Seminars also will examine documents associated with each student's own plan for the dissertation proposal, emerging from autonomous small-group meetings. Conceptually, the course begins with an explanation of the dissertation proposal and its template before moving on to different and competing approaches to literary and cultural scholarship relevant to students in the associated MSc programmes. It culminates in a conference-style presentation of the dissertation proposals, with oral and written feedback provided by peers and by Graduate School staff. |
| Course description |
Selected critical theories, and associated research problems and methods drawn from literary, cultural and theatre and performance studies, including linguistic methods, postcolonial and feminist theory, and French poststructuralist and sociological thought, which are introduced at a general level. Seminars will also examine particular instances of each type of research.
The course begins with an explanation of research proposals and structures before moving on to different and competing approaches to contemporary literary and cultural scholarship.
Teaching and learning will take place through seminars, in-class presentations, and online discussion--in line with the students' research interests, and the aims of their respective MSc programmes.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Students will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis, upon completion of both the required elements of the course assessment.
Following regular small-group meetings, each student will give a 8-10 minute presentation on a self-selected reading that illustrates her/his provisional dissertation topic. This will be valued at 25% of the final grade (graded numerically only in cases of borderline fail or misconduct).
Students will be asked to formulate a statement of a research topic, including the aims, objectives, methods and significance of the proposed research. It will include an overview and summary of recent research relevant to their dissertation proposal. The statement and literature overview should not exceed 2000 words, and will be valued at 75% (graded numerically only in cases of borderline fail or misconduct).
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| Feedback |
Students will receive written feedback from the course organiser in response to their in-class presentations; they will also receive written feedback following their written submission. The course's discussion forum will provide opportunity for ongoing feedback among students. All students will be invited to meet the course organiser and MSc programme director during weekly office hours, to seek clarification and further details on any aspect of their ongoing assessment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Formulate a research problem, appropriate to their respective MSc programme;
- Demonstrate their awareness of the methods appropriate for dealing with different modes of literary and cultural research;
- Demonstrate their competence not only in the preparation of bibliographies and research documents, but also their capabilities for identifying and articulating possible research projects in literary and cultural studies.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Classroom learning will comprise 10 weekly seminars, four of which include meetings of Autonomous Learning Groups, and six of which will feature in-class presentations led by individual students. Students also will participate, as speakers and/or auditors, in a conference-style meeting at which they will have the opportunity to present their dissertation topic to fellow students and potential supervisors, and receive oral and written feedback. |
| Keywords | RMaP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Adam Budd
Tel: (0131 6)50 3834
Email: adam.budd@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kara McCormack
Tel: (0131 6)50 3030
Email: Kara.McCormack@ed.ac.uk |
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